Each year, skin cancer affects more people in America than any other type of cancer. Identifying skin cancer early helps with successful treatment. Your Casper, WY, skin doctors also serving Gillette, Laramie, Douglas, Rawlins, Riverton, Thermopolis, and Wheatland, WY, can help you with skin cancer prevention tips and early detection. At the Central Wyoming Skin Clinic and Medical Skin Care, you can count on the expertise of Dr. Scott Bennion and Dr. Matthew Green.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Staying out of direct sunlight especially between 11 am and 2 pm is the single most important thing you can do to prevent skin cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible rays from the sun that could cause abnormal changes to your skin cells that might progress to skin cancer.
If you’ll be spending extended periods out in the sun, then you can’t go wrong with protective clothing. Long skirts, pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats help cover up as much skin as possible. UV protective sunglasses will also help protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging effects. Other sources of UV rays that you should avoid include sun lamps and tanning beds.
Put On Sunscreen
Take your sun protection a step further by covering your skin with sunscreen. Broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF over 15 that shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays are best.
Those sneaky UV rays can still get to you when you’re indoors because they can pass through glass and reflect off surfaces. If preventing skin cancer is a priority for you, then you shouldn’t skip using sunscreen. Also, remember to apply your sunscreen multiple times during the day to replace whatever sweat might wash away.
Skin Examinations
The best way to identify skin cancer early is by reporting skin abnormalities to your skin doctors in Casper, WY, also serving Gillette, Laramie, Rawlins, Riverton, Thermopolis, and Wheatland, WY, at the Central Wyoming Skin Clinic and Medical Skin Care.
That’s why routine skin examinations with the help of mirrors are important. Only when you know what your skin looks like when it’s normal will you be able to tell when something is wrong.
Signs that you should schedule a consultation with your dermatologists, Dr. Bennion and Dr. Green include:
- Open sores that fail to heal
- Warts and lumps
- Skin discolorations
- New moles
- Moles that show asymmetry, irregular borders, non-uniform color, diameter above 6mm, or evolving
Your skin doctors in Casper, WY, also serving Gillette, Laramie, Douglas, Rawlins, Riverton, Thermopolis, and Wheatland, WY, will help you with early detection and assess your skin cancer risk. Call (307) 234-0003 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bennion and Dr. Green